>>The Framework is free. Anyone can download it. What you have to buy are tools like Visual Studio .Net that use the framework.
>
>So, if I download the framework, I can't do anything with it. I have to make a choice of purchasing a development environment such as VB.Net for example, right?


Yes, you'll need some kind of development tool. There are, according to MS, something like 50 languages that will be available for .Net, mostly from third party companies. You're not required to use an MS language.